Hanging ornament storage container

ABSTRACT

A storage container for storing ornaments in a hanging orientation is provided. The container is comprised of a box and a plurality of ornament supportable cross-members which extend across the opening defined by the box. In use, a person hangs ornaments from the cross-members by placing a portion of the ornament&#39;s hook in a hole formed within the cross-members.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/108,786, filed Jul. 2, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,536, entitled Hanging Ornament Storage Container.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a storage container for storing ornaments in a hanging orientation. More particularly, this invention relates to a storage container having a number of parallel cross-members reaching from one side to another which can be used for storing ornaments in a hanging orientation from the cross-members.

[0004] It is a common occurrence for people to collect and accumulate several different types of decorative items of a seasonal nature these days. These items are placed out around the house during their particular season and then stored until used again the following year. Many of these items can be quite valuable because of monetary (such as a collectors item) or sentimental (such as a family heirloom) reasons and are almost always fragile. The fragile nature of these valuable items makes the method used to store them important.

[0005] One such seasonal item that can be valuable and require careful storage is a Christmas tree ornament. Christmas tree ornaments are most often made of a thin walled glass ball which has an opening in the top where an ornament hanger or hook can be attached. The ornaments are then hung on the branches of a Christmas tree during the Christmas season.

[0006] After Christmas, most people store their ornaments by laying them as gently as possible in the bottom of a box, one on top of the other until the box is filled. This method has several drawbacks. The most important drawback is that regardless of how carefully the ornaments are put in the box and the box is handled, inevitably, some of the ornaments get broken or smashed from the weight of other ornaments resting on them.

[0007] Another drawback to this method of storage is that the ornament hooks always get tangled together making tree decorating the following season difficult and time consuming. Therefore, there is a need for a storage container which can quickly, easily and effectively store ornaments in a safe and organized manner. The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art and fills these and other needs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is a general object of the present invention to quickly and efficiently store ornaments in a safe and organized hanging arrangement.

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide an ornament storage container that is simple and easy to use.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to store ornaments in a way that greatly reduces the possibility of breakage or smashing.

[0011] A further object of the present invention is to provide an ornament storage container that is inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

[0012] In order to overcome the above stated problems and limitations and to achieve the noted objects, there is provided an ornament storage container which can be used to store hanging ornaments in successive rows in a hanging orientation.

[0013] In general, the ornament storage container comprises a box with successive parallel cross-members running from one side of the box to an opposite side, that have been adapted to securely receive an ornament hook of a hanging ornament, and a lid to cover the box and thereby keep dust or pests out during storage.

[0014] One embodiment is preferably made entirely out of corrugated cardboard and in such a manner that the box may be folded up for ease in packaging for initial sale, ease in storing the container when not in use, ease in manufacturing and to provide an inexpensive product.

[0015] Another embodiment is preferably made entirely out of plastic. This arrangement can provide a lid for the container that can be secured in an air-tight fashion in order to prevent pests, such as mice, moths or bugs, or water from being able to enter the container and damage any ornaments that are susceptible to such damage, namely cloth or fabric type ornaments.

[0016] A third embodiment is preferably a combination of cardboard and plastic components. This combination is preferably a cardboard support structure made to fit inside already available standard plastic storage containers. This cardboard insert would allow consumers to retrofit their existing storage containers and thereby convert them into hanging ornament storage containers of the present invention.

[0017] Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention over the prior art will become apparent from the detailed description of the drawings which follows, when considered with the attached figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0018] The objects and features of the invention noted above are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals denote like elements, and in which:

[0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the hanging ornament storage container of the present invention in use;

[0020]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the first embodiment of the container of the present invention with the broken lines showing the container in a collapsed position;

[0021]FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a corner portion of the container shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0022]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on a vertical plane through the container shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0023]FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a corner portion of a container constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a container constructed in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on a vertical plane through a container constructed in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention in use.

[0026]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a hanging ornament support structure insert constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and

[0027]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a corner portion of a container constructed in accordance with a forth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Referring now to the drawings in detail and initially to FIG. 1, numeral 10 generally designates a hanging ornament storage container constructed in accordance with the present invention. The container 10 is primarily comprised of a box 12 and a plurality of ornament supportable cross-members 14 which are supported by the box 12 over a bottom portion 16 thereof. The container 10 preferably also includes a lid 18, a pair of handles 20,22, and holes or apertures 24 in the cross-members 14 to receive a hook 26 of a Christmas ornament 28.

[0029] The preferred first embodiment of the box 12, as pictured in FIG. 1, is preferably made of corrugated cardboard and has a front wall 30, a rear wall 32, two side walls 34,36, and the bottom 16. An open volume or expanse 38 is formed inside of the walls 30,32,34,36 and above the bottom 16 of the box 12. The bottom 16 of the box 12, as best illustrated in FIG. 2, is comprised of several flaps 40 which can be interlocked or folded together when the box 12 is in use. The solid line depiction in FIG. 2 shows the container 10 in a first, rectangular, open, use position. The dashed line depiction of the drawing shows the container 10 in a collapsed, storage or sale position. The flaps 40 allow the box 12 to be folded down and collapsed to a flat condition when not in use. This smaller shape lets the container 10 take up less space when not in use and less space on a shelf in a store for initial sale. This box 12 is of a type generally known in the art.

[0030] The box 12 preferably also includes the two handles 20,22 for carrying the container 10. Both handles 20,22 are preferably located on their respective side wall 34,36 equidistant from the front wall 30 and the rear wall 32, and closer to an upper periphery 42 of the box 12 than to the bottom 16. FIG. 1 illustrates the handles 20,22 as holes in the side walls 34,36. FIG. 6, on the other hand, illustrates a handle 120 that enables one to make an air-tight container 110. Both of these types of handles 20,22 and 120 are within the scope of the present invention, as are other handles which are known by one of ordinary skill in the art to be equivalent.

[0031] The ornament supportable cross-members 14 are each preferably an elongate piece having a front end 44 and an opposing rear end 46. Each cross-member 14 is positioned in the box 12 such that the front end 44 of the cross-member 14 is supported by the front wall 30 and the rear end 46 of the cross-member 14 is supported by rear wall 32. The plurality of cross-members 14 are preferably arranged in a substantially parallel orientation to each other and are preferably also substantially parallel to the sides 34,36. The cross-members 14 could, of course, be of different shapes or in a different orientation within the box provided they are able to perform the function of supporting ornaments 28 in a hanging orientation. Additionally, the cross-members 14 could span over only a portion of the bottom 16 and could be supported in other manners than attachment to the sides 34,36.

[0032] In the preferred first embodiment, each cross-member 14 includes a plurality of holes or apertures 24 therein for receiving the hook 26 of a Christmas ornament 28. While the cross-members 14 have been found to work fine without holes 24, the holes 24 are beneficial because they allow a user to hang an ornament 28 on the cross-member 14 in a desired location. If the hook 26 of the ornament 28 is merely placed over the cross-member 14, the ornament 28 may slide along the cross-member 14 during movement of the container 10 which may result in some ornaments 28 hitting each other and becoming damaged. The cross-members 14 could have annular grooves (not pictured) placed therein to prevent hooks 26 from sliding along the cross-members 14, however, the holes 24 have been found to be satisfactory in most applications.

[0033] In the preferred first embodiment of the present invention, the cross-members 14 are made of corrugated cardboard. In this embodiment, the cross-members 14 are supported by the front and rear walls 30,32 at their ends 44,46 preferably by gluing a portion of the ends 44,46 to the walls 30,32 near the upper periphery 42 thereof. The ends 44,46 of the cross-members 14 each preferably have a bend 48. The bends 48 in the ends 44,46 of the cross-members 14 are in opposite directions of each other. This allows the cross-members 14 to remain attached to the box 12 when the box 12 is folded down and collapsed to a flat condition when not in use (dashed line depiction in FIG. 2). Also, bending the ends 44,46 of the cross-members 14 in this manner allows the box 12 to collapse more easily than if the ends 44,46 were bent in the same direction.

[0034] The bend 48 also forms a tab 50 at the ends 44,46 of the cross-members for attaching the cross-members 14 to the walls 30,32 of the box 12 (best viewed in FIG. 2). The tabs 50 are perpendicular to the cross-members 14 when the box 12 is in use. The tabs 50 also provide relatively large surface areas for gluing to the box 12, thus providing a strong attachment of the cross-members 14 that is able to stand up to repeated folding and unfolding of the box 12. Alternatively, or additionally, the tabs 50 may be attached to the walls 30,32,34,36 by staples 52 (FIG. 3).

[0035] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, corrugated cardboard, when used to make the cross-members 14, should be positioned such that the tunnels naturally provided by the corrugations are in a vertical orientation. This arrangement has several benefits.

[0036] One benefit provided by this arrangement is greater rigidity in the cross-members 14 than if the tunnels were in a horizontal orientation. Even greater rigidity can be achieved by doubling up the cross-members 14 or by using thicker cardboard than what is illustrated. Another benefit is that the vertical tunnels naturally provide the plurality of desired holes 24 on an upwardly facing portion of the cross-members 14 capable of receiving the ornament hooks 26. Other benefits include ease of manufacturing, low material costs, light weight yet sturdy components, and its ready availability in the container industry.

[0037] The lid 18 is also of a type generally known in the art. The lid 18 preferably includes a flat cover portion 54 having an outer periphery 56. Depending downwardly from the outer periphery 56 of the cover portion 54 is a flange or an overlapping portion 58 which is designed to fit closely around and overlap the upper periphery 42 of the box 12 when the lid 18 engages the box 12. In addition to performing the function of closing the box 12 up, the cover portion 54 of the lid 18 also acts to prevent the hooks 26 from coming out of the holes 24 during movement of the container 10.

[0038] A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. In these figures, parts that are similar to or correspond to parts that are depicted in FIGS. 1-4 are identified by similar reference numbers in the 100 s. In the second embodiment, all of the parts of the container 110 are made of plastic. The cross-member 114 is a plastic rod having a square or rectangular cross-section. Preferably, the cross-members 114 also have a plurality of evenly spaced holes 124 therethrough in a vertical orientation.

[0039] In this embodiment, each cross-member 114 is supported by the front and rear walls 130,132 at its ends 144,146. Preferably, a plurality of notches 60 are formed in walls 30 and 32 adjacent to the upper periphery 142, and the ends 144 and 146 fit closely yet removably in the notches 60 to hold the cross-members 114 in place. This arrangement allows for the quick removal of all or some of the cross-members 114 such that the container 110 may be customized depending on its particular use and contents.

[0040] Other benefits of the second embodiment include the ability to have the lid 118 be air tight, to prevent water damage or to prevent damage from pests, and to provide a more durable container.

[0041] A third embodiment of the present is illustrated in FIG. 8. The third embodiment is a hanging ornament support structure insert 210. The insert 210 could be either of the embodiments previously described and illustrated but for the removal of the bottom 16 or 116. The insert 210 is constructed with walls 230,232,234,236 and cross-members 214 extending between opposing walls 230,232. Preferably the insert 210 is made to fit into previously existing and readily available plastic storage containers such as the type sold under the Rubbermaid® mark.

[0042] A benefit of this third embodiment is the ability of a consumer, who already owns a plastic storage container, to purchase the cardboard or plastic insert 210 and retrofit or convert their existing storage container into a hanging ornament storage container. Another benefit of this embodiment is the ability to stack several cardboard or plastic inserts 210 on top of each other and thereby provide multiple, individually removable layers of ornament hanging cross-members 214.

[0043]FIG. 9 illustrates a fourth embodiment which is a variation to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the cross-members 14 extend through slots 62 in the walls 30 and 32 such that the walls 30 and 32 support the cross-members 14 directly instead of indirectly via the tabs 50. In this arrangement, the tabs 50 are attached to the walls 30,32 on the outside of the container 10, as opposed to the inside of the container 10. While the primary function of the tabs 50 in the first embodiment is to provide support for the cross-members 14, the primary function of the tabs 50 in this embodiment is to secure the cross-members in place.

[0044] The slots 62 provide greater support than the first embodiment by allowing the cross-members 14 to rest directly on a portion of the walls 30,32. This allows the weight of the ornaments 28 to be passed directly from the cross-members 14 to the walls 30,32 without having to go through the tabs 50. While this embodiment sacrifices some of the collapsibility of the first embodiment, it provides sturdier cross-members 14.

[0045] In use, the user hangs an ornament 28 on a cross-member 14,114,214 by placing a free end 64 of the ornament hook 26 into one of the holes 24,124,224 in the cross-member 14,114,214. An end of the hook 26 opposite the free end 64 is attached to an anchor 66, a portion of which is located inside the ornament 28 and a portion of which is surrounded by a ring or cap 68. If extra protection is desired, the user may fill the container 10,110,210 with packing peanuts 70 (FIG. 7) after all of the desired ornaments 28 are hung inside. The holes 24,124,224 are selected sot that adjacent ornaments 28 do not bang into each other. Similarly, the cross-members 14,114,214 are spaced apart far enough to avoid contact between ornaments 28 hanging on adjacent cross-members 14,114,214.

[0046] From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

[0047] It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

[0048] Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative of applications of the principles of this invention, and not in a limiting sense. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of storing ornaments in a hanging orientation, said ornaments having a hook thereon from which they depend, said hook having a free end, the method comprising: obtaining a storage container having a peripheral wall, a bottom and a cross-member, wherein the peripheral wall and the bottom define an open expanse, wherein the cross-member has a plurality of ornament hanging locations, wherein the cross-member extends across at least a portion of the open expanse of the container and wherein the cross-member is adapted to support ornaments hung thereon; and placing one of said hooks of one of said ornaments on one of the plurality of ornament hanging locations of the cross-member, whereby said ornament depends from the cross-member in a hanging orientation.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ornament hanging locations of the cross-member are formed in the cross-member.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the ornament hanging locations are a plurality of apertures in the cross-member which are adapted to receive said free end of said hooks of said ornaments and wherein the placing one of said hooks of one of said ornaments on one of the plurality of ornament hanging locations of the cross-member includes placing said free end of said hook in one of the apertures.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the apertures in the cross-member are in a vertical orientation.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the cross-member is made of cardboard having corrugations and wherein the corrugations of the cardboard form the vertical apertures in the cross-member.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the cross-member is removable.
 7. The method of claim 2, wherein the ornament hanging locations are a plurality of annular grooves formed in the cross-member and wherein the placing one of said hooks of one of said ornaments on one of the plurality of ornament hanging locations of the cross-member includes placing a U-shaped portion of said hook in one of the grooves.
 8. A method of storing ornaments in a hanging orientation, said ornaments having a hook thereon from which they depend, said hook having a free end, the method comprising: obtaining a storage container having a peripheral wall, a bottom and a plurality of cross-members, wherein the peripheral wall and the bottom define an open expanse, wherein the cross-members have a plurality of ornament hanging locations formed therein, wherein the cross-members extend across at least a portion of the open expanse of the container and wherein the cross-members are supported by the peripheral wall; and placing one of said hooks of one of said ornaments on one of the plurality of ornament hanging locations of one of the cross-members, whereby said ornament depends from the cross-member in a hanging orientation.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the ornament hanging locations are a plurality of vertical apertures in the cross-members which are adapted to receive said free end of said hooks of said ornaments and wherein the placing one of said hooks of one of said ornaments on one of the plurality of ornament hanging locations of one of the cross-members includes placing said free end of said hook in one of the apertures.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the cross-members are made of cardboard having corrugations and wherein the corrugations of the cardboard form the vertical apertures in the cross-members.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein a portion of the cross-members is spaced apart from and above the bottom of the container, whereby ornaments depending from the cross-members may depend freely therefrom and be positioned there between.
 12. A method of storing ornaments in a hanging orientation, said ornaments having a hook thereon from which they depend, said hook having a free end, the method comprising: obtaining a storage container having a peripheral wall, a bottom and a plurality of cross-members, wherein the peripheral wall and the bottom define an open expanse, wherein the cross-members have a plurality of vertical apertures therein, wherein a portion of the cross-members extend across a portion of the open expanse of the container and wherein a portion of the cross-members are spaced apart from the bottom of the container; and placing said free end of one of said hooks of one of said ornaments in one of the apertures of one of the cross-members, whereby said ornament depends from the cross-member in a hanging orientation.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the cross-members are made of cardboard having corrugations and wherein the corrugations of the cardboard form the vertical apertures in the cross-members.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the cross-members have opposing ends and wherein the cross-members are supported above the bottom of the container by the opposing ends being coupled with the peripheral wall adjacent an upper edge thereof.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the cross-members are removably coupled with the peripheral wall.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the cross-members are removable from the container.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein the container is collapsible to a generally flat condition when not in use.
 18. A method of storing ornaments in a hanging orientation, said ornaments having a hook thereon from which they depend, said hook having a free end, the method comprising: obtaining a storage container having a container peripheral wall and a bottom, wherein the container peripheral wall and the bottom define an open expanse; obtaining an insert having an insert peripheral wall and a plurality of cross-members, wherein the cross-members have a plurality of ornament hanging locations, wherein the cross-members are supported by the insert peripheral wall adjacent an upper edge thereof and wherein the cross-members are adapted to support ornaments hung thereon; placing the insert in the storage container, whereby a lower edge of the insert rests on the bottom of the storage container; and placing one of said hooks of one of said ornaments on one of the plurality of ornament hanging locations of one of the cross-members, whereby said ornament depends from the cross-member in a hanging orientation.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the insert is collapsible when not in use.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the cross-members are removable from the insert.
 21. The method of claim 18, wherein in the ornament hanging locations are a plurality of vertical apertures in the cross-members which are adapted to receive said free end of said hooks of said ornaments and wherein the placing one of said hooks of one of said ornaments on one of the plurality of ornament hanging locations of one of the cross-members includes placing said free end of said hook in one of the apertures.
 22. The method of claim 18, further comprising: obtaining a second insert, wherein the second insert is substantially identical to the other insert; placing the second insert in the storage container, whereby a lower edge of the second insert rests on the upper edge of the other insert; and placing one of said hooks of another one of said ornaments on one of the plurality of ornament hanging locations of one of the cross-members of the second insert, whereby said ornament depends from the cross-member of the second insert in a hanging orientation. 